Many different varieties of oregano find uses in cuisines from around the world. Some of these varieties have quite different flavors from the familiar oregano found in Italian herb blends. Trying different kinds of oregano is a great way to add interest to your garden and your cooking.
Is all oregano the same?
Oregano varieties can differ in flavor based on species and growing region—Greek oregano, for example, is typically high in pungent carvacrol, while Spanish oregano tastes more like thyme. Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) comes from the verbena family.
How many varieties of oregano are there?
She explained that there are three to four dozen or so species of the perennial herb. Each has its own flavor – from strong and peppery to hardly spicy at all. You have to take the time to find the one that suits your taste and needs.
What type of oregano is best for cooking?
Greek oregano tends to be the most savory and earthy, while Italian is milder and Turkish is more pungent. Used fresh or dry, Mediterranean oregano is the choice for dishes from this region, tomato sauces, pizzas, grilled meats, and other dishes with strong flavors.
What’s the difference between regular oregano and Mexican oregano?
Regular oregano is an Italian and Mediterranean spice with minty undertones. It matches perfectly with dishes from that region. You will commonly find it added to pasta sauces, grilled meats and pizza. Mexican oregano has lemon and citrus flavors as well as some tones of licorice.
What is the difference between oregano and wild oregano?
Wild oregano has a much stronger oregano taste than regular oregano. It can be used dried or fresh. It is used in making Zatar.
Is fresh oregano safe to eat?
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an herb used to flavor foods. It is considered safe in common food amounts, but has little evidence of health benefits.
Which oregano is used in pizza?
The classic oregano which can be sprinkled on your Pizza, Pasta to give it an authentic Italian flavor.
What is oregano good for?
Oregano is an herb that boasts some pretty potent benefits when it comes to your health. It is high in antioxidants and may help fight off bacteria and viruses, potentially reduce the growth of cancer cells and help alleviate inflammation.
Which is best fresh or dried oregano?
Oregano, for example, is sharper and more peppery fresh, while the dried stuff is flavorful but mild. Both are delicious, but they aren’t identical. So, you’ll want to use the two forms in different kinds of dishes. Sprinkle dried oregano on pizza, add to breading for eggplant parm or whisk it into a vinaigrette.
What type of oregano is McCormick?
Origins. Turkey is the principal supplier of Oregano to McCormick. It is stronger flavored and more bitter than the Greek variety. The Mexican type has a distinctively different flavor which is less minty, more hay-like and less bitter than the other sources.
What is the mildest oregano?
Italian Oregano
This type of oregano has a milder flavor for cooking, as it is a hybrid of common oregano and marjoram.
What is common oregano?
Often confused with the more pungent, white-flowered True Greek variety, common oregano, also called wild oregano or wild marjoram, has a milder flavor, and is the traditional variety for medicinal use. Leaves can be used as a fresh or dried herb.
Does oregano plant spread?
Oregano spreads easily; in late spring, cut it back to one-third of its size in order to make the plant bushier. In milder climates (zone 8 and southward), oregano is evergreen. In zone 7 and northward, protect plants with mulch through the winter, or cover them with a cold frame.
Can you eat purple oregano leaves?
aureum) is one popular edible type. Hopley’s Purple Oregano (Origanum laevigatum) is another type that is edible. While you can eat oregano raw, most people find it too pungent and this is why it is added to cooking instead.
Can I substitute regular oregano for Mexican oregano?
One ingredient won’t make or break a recipe, but oregano and Mexican oregano offer different flavors. You can substitute oregano for Mexican oregano, but the taste may be different from what you’re looking for.
What is another name for Mexican oregano?
Mexican Oregano, Oregano Cimarr n, Hierba Dulce. There are many common names for this tenacious little shrub, including Mexican oregano, oregano cimarrón, hierba dulce, and redbrush lippia to name a few.
Can you cook with Mexican oregano?
Mexican oregano is used to liven many recipes — meat dishes, salsas, pickling recipes (like onions or jalapeños), enchilada sauces, or even tea.
Which is better oregano oil or oil of oregano?
Oregano essential oil is a much more concentrated substance than oil of oregano. Manufacturers typically use heat to extract the oil from the leaves, stems, or flowers of the plant. Unlike oil of oregano, it is not safe to consume oregano essential oil.
Is marjoram the same thing as oregano?
Marjoram is a milder and sweeter alternative to spicier oregano. Origanum vulgare is the common variety that grows wild in Mediterranean mountainous regions. It lacks the depth of oregano flavor preferred in most cuisines. Origanum vulgare hirtum is considered the true Greek oregano.
How do I know if oregano is marjoram?
While the oval, flat green leaves of these mint-family herbs are often confused for one another, each one has a distinct smell and flavor that sets it apart. Oregano tends to be pungent and spicy, while more mild marjoram is floral and woodsy.